Vancouver Regional FreeNet Association
Board Meeting
411 Dunsmuir, Vancouver
September 26, 1995
Attendance: Margaret Coates (chair), Penny Goldsmith, Neil K. Guy, Ross
Penner, Stephanie Fletcher, Godwin Chan, Jennifer Higgins-Ingham, Mark
Moran, Lorne Gray, Nick Fong, George Lindholm.
Absent: Vic Vaivads
Staff: Kathy Fournier, Phil Lyons.
1. Call to order at 7:05.
2. Adoption of agenda
3. Minutes.
M/S/C That the minutes of September 14, 1995 be approved.
4. Change of name.
Penny Goldsmith will organize a brainstorming process on a new name.
Several board members also volunteered to take part.
5. Meetings.
M/S/C That the board meet on a monthly basis and the Operations Committee
meet one week before each board meeting, and
That the Operations Committee be made up of Margaret Coates, Penny
Goldsmith, Mark Moran, and Ross Penner, with other board members invited
to attend, with the exception of sessions dealing with personnel matters.
It was agreed that board meetings will be the third week of each month.
However, the October meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday--October 24.
6. Board planning retreat.
It was agreed that a board planning retreat be held on Saturday, November
4, at the office at 411 Dunsmuir.
7. Procedure in the absence of the president.
It was agreed that while Margaret is away on holidays issues of concern
will be reported to Kathy Fournier. If decisions need to be made, the
Operations Committee will meet in the absence of the president.
8. Agreement with UBC on backup in emergency situations.
Kathy Fournier and Nick Fong will be in contact with UBC to work out an
agreement for backup and necessary access. They will bring recommendations
to the October board meeting.
9. Board representatives and open board positions.
Board members were asked to identify people who might be interested in the
positions of fundraiser and vice-president.
VRFA representatives appointed to external groups:
Stephanie Fletcher--Information Access Conference Planning Committee
Larry Kuehn--B.C. Information Access Coalition
Penny Goldsmith--B.C. Freenet Association
10. HRDC Update.
The terms of the HRDC contract have been met with more than 80 information
providers and with public access terminals. The 50 line target is to be
met before the end of the project.
11. Advanced training project.
A prototype of the training project will be up and running by the third
week of October to demonstrate to the boards of the Freenet, 411 Seniors
Centre and the National Academy of Older Canadians. The three boards will
be invited to a demonstration of the training program.
The advanced training programs will be on a fee-paying basis. The basic
training will continue to be offered for free.
12. Science World.
Science World will set up public access terminals for the four month
Science and Technology Fair. More than 250,000 people are expected to go
through Science World during this program.
13. Public access.
Phil Lyons is completing his project of getting new information providers
and public access locations. The board complimented and thanked Phil for
his work.
Neil K. Guy and Lorne Gray volunteered to bring forward a plan for training
i.p. volunteers in html.
14. Committee reports.
Community Content. The next meeting will be on October 3. A policy on
SIGs is being developed.
15. Next board meeting.
The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, October 24, at 7 p.m. at 411
Dunsmuir.